Tree-irrigator.



E. A. KANST.

IREE IRRIGATOR. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 6. 1917.

Pdtented Oct. 1,-1918.

5/71 7/672 for nnwInJA. nausea, or on cnoo, rumors.

TREE-IRRIGATOR'.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 6, 1917. Serial No. 152,831.

To alleehom it may concemj e Beit known that I, EDWIN A. ,KANST, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have'invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Tree- Irrigat ors, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to theiaceompanying drawings. e t

My invention relates to tree irrlgators of the general type shown and described in, Letters Patent No. 1,194,027, granted to me August 8,1916, in whichthe irrigator consists of a, tube preferably of Corrugated iron suitably galvanized to preventrusting, said tube being adapted to be buried in the round adj aeent to a tree to be irrigated and eing open at the bottom so that water poured into said tube will be fed to theroot system of the tree. The irrigator is proyided complete separation from the irrigator, to

with a cover or, cap which closes-its open upper end and maybe displaced without permit water to be poured into the tube. The object of my present invention is to provide certain improvements in tree irrigators of the type described,' by which fertilizer may be stored in it and supplied" gradually or from time to;ti1neto the soil, as may be desired, and this without interfering with thequick application of a'large .volumeof water to the soil when necessary. a I accom- 1 plishthis object as illustrated in the draw-- ings and as hereinafter described. That, which I believe to be new'issetforthin the claims, a T r e V e Inthe accompany ng draw1ngs,. Flgure 1 1s a slde view of mylmp oved Referring to the draWings,- a e 3 indicates the irrigator tube, which, as above-stated, is best made of corrugated galvanized iron and is of suitable length so that when buried in the ground with its up: per end substantially flush with the surfaces thereof its lower end will extend down into the root system of the tree in connection with which it is used. In practice, a suitable hole is bored by means of a post-hole auger, or similar implement, and the tube 3 inserted in such hole. As best shown in Fig. 2, the upper end of the tube 3 is open and its lower end is partly closed by means of a perforated bottom plate 4 inset a short distance into the lower end of the tube 3 so as to provide a flange 5 around .the lower margin of the device. 6 indicates a perfo rated sleeve, which is mounted, preferably centrally, upon the bottom plate at and extendsup a suitable distaneeinto the tube 3.

In the drawings I haveshownsaid sleeve as extending up to nearthe longitudinal center ofthe tube 3, but itsheight may bevaried, and it is of comparativelysmalldiameter so as to provide a. considerable space around it within the tube 3, as shown. 7 indicates amass of fertilizer, whichis placed in-the lower portion of the tube 3, resting upon the bottom plate 4: and surrounding the sleeve 6. It will belapparent that by pouring water into the tube 3, the fertilizer therein will be moistenedand more or less submerged, depending upon the volume of water introduced, i If more than enough water is used to saturate thefertilizer,the surplus will flow directly into the soil through the perforations in the upperportion of the sleeve 6, and the balaneewill percolatethrough the fertilizer and gradually pass into the soil either through the sleeve 6 .or through the bottom plate 4, or both,

Patenteolflct. Lima,

gradually feeding the fertilizer to the soil. I

It will, be noted that the perforations in the sleeve 6 are disposed throughout the opera tive length thereof, that is to say,-that part of said sleeve which lies belowthe level to which the device is-usually filled with fertilizer, so that the water in the tube 3 below the upper end of said sleeve is not compelled,

to pass through. the entire mass offertilizer before it can escape to the soil, but has access to said sleeve all aIongitslength. Consequently, the danger of applying too strong a solution of fertilizerto the soil is avoided.

Suchwateras passes to the bottom of the tube 3 may escape directly to the soil through the perforations in the bottom plate 4 with out passing through the sleeve 6, and is thus initially distributed over a wider area. By insetting the bottom plate 4 as shown, a smallspace is provided below the irrigator into which the moisture first passes from the sleeve 6, and as the soil under such space remains comparatively loose, the percolation of the water into the soil is facilitated. By filling the tube 3 with water above the level of the sleeve 6, the water can pass directly into said sleeve through its open upper end as well as through the perforations in the sides thereof, and consequently a large vol- Lune of Water can be fed to the soil When necessary. 7 V p Q 8 indicates a cover-plate, \vlueh is adapted to fit upon the upper end of the tube- 3, to; close the same. Said cover-plate is held against complete separation from the tube; by a rod 9, the upper end of which is screwed into a boss 10 at the underside er the cover; as shown in Fig. 2. Said rod passes down through a cross-bar 11 having a narrow shit 12 enlarged at the center to reoeive the rod 9. Said bar Holds the-leaves pdrtielref the i 1 rod 9' in position and guides it as itisino'ved doe shown in Fi 1'," the lu s 13' their passin% longitudinally by the liilSlilg or lowering of the sever. 13 indicates lugs rojecting frem diametricallyopposite points on the rod*9 at e p rils which li s immediately below the barll whendhe eoveris' in position; These lugs serve to Hold the cover-err the tube 3 whenithe'y are tilrned at an angle to the slot 12. By, rotating-the eever t6 aline said lu s With theslet, it niav-be liftedin'te the posi-- through said slot. At its loiv-e'r end tli r 9 oa'rrieslflgs 14; at right angles to thelugs: 13, said lugs being adapted to Z engage the bar ll vvhe'n the cover is raised high nough to prevent" com lete separation' ofthe cover time the tiibe 8 iniless the cover be again r6 eased te bring thelu'gs it into ell-nemesis with the slot12. Insteadofthe lugs'l l a eireuler' head may be employed; as shown and described 'in'l'ny said patent; thereby pre venting complete" separation of the cover from the*tubeeiunlessthe rod 9 be first dis connected from the oover plate. By this constrtlotion the cover cannot be lost or stolen; and yet may be raised snfliciently to permit water or fertifiz'er to be supplied to; theirrigat rf The cover preventsevapore tion of the Water and alsokeeps stones; grass clippings andether irubbishfeut er the are lewienough so that the cover-plate does not interfere with the operationof a 'laixmmower;

Tlie'twvhieh I claim as mytinventieri, and

, desire to seeure by Letters Peter's, 12s,

11 A tree; irrigator, comprising a; tube adapted te r be inserted in the ground and? Havieg e epe is for tlieintr0d1ietion of water and fertilizer, aplate in the 1ewer'pe'1 tied of said tube adapted to support a L of fertilizer, and a sleeve prbj seeingup into? the lower portion of said tubethrough said plate, that portion of said sleeve normally tube around said sleeve; said-"platebeing 7 adapted to support nia'ss of fertilizer and t6 permit? water to pas to the soil {Hideendentlyof'saidsleeve r 3. A tree, irrigator, comprising a tube adapted td be inserted in they gror'mdfland having air openin fer the introduction of waterand fertilizer, a longitudiri llyperiterated sleeve projeetijng updnte thef'lower poi-tion of seidtube, and a pgerfereted plate in the lower portion efsaidtub'e around said sleeve; said plate; being adapted) tesupport a mass offertilizer and to permit water th pass te the soil independently of "said sleeve? l A tre'e il-rigete'r; coniprisinga t'tib'e" adapted l to 1 inserted in the ground and" having" deepenin for the introduetlon' of Water "and fertilizfili", l projeeting up" into thelo'vveri portion ofsaid tube, and a bottom plate in the lower portion of said tube around said I sleeve and a'bove theloWer end of said tiib said bottom plate beinw of said 3 sleeve to the I perforated tbjpei'h it waterte' ess from saitube independently A spade leelewsaid bottoin plate. I

5,1 16 tree im eter, eoniprlsm a-.tube* adapted "to be inserted in the groun'fcl' and having opening fee-the introductions? d Water and fertilizer; asleeve extendingflup" into the lewer portion" of sa id -tu be;'that' pertion of said sleeve normally coveredbyfertilizeffbeing 'p'erfereted sustantiall threugheet its length, and a bottoinplatejin said tdbetsurrodnding said sleeve, sa'1d' bot* thin plate being located at a point removed from thelewer end of saidtube to form a spacefor the distribution ofvvate'r.

EDWINA. eaner. 

